Brake-operating mechanism



May 4, 1926. 1,583,121

A. F. BRUSH BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30, 1925 I ALANON P. BRUSH Patented May 4, 1926.

ALANSON r. Barren, orpErnorr, mrcirrean.

BRAKE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed September 30, 1925. Serial No. 59,490.

To all wlz am it may concern: a Be it known that I, ALANsoN P. BR SH, a citizen of the United States, residin in Detroit, in the county ofVVayne and tate of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brake-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to brakes for use upon vehicle wheels swivelled upon their axles, as, for instance, the usual front wheel of a motor vehicle. It is the object of the invention to obtain'a novel and very simple construction of operating mechanism which will not interfere with the free turning orpivoting of the wheel.

One feature of the invention relatesto arranging a novel brake operating member, shown as a lever fulcrumed on the axle, so that the brake-applying part moves from an idle position spaced from the swivellingg axis of the wheel to an active position substantially in that axis. Preferably the lever is fulcrumed between, its ends, and swings in a generally horizontal plane, so that its inner end may be connected directly to the brake rod or the like, thus eliminating 'all of the direction-changing transmission necessaryin prior arrangements in which the joint at the end of the lever is at all times in the swivelling axis. This also permits a considerable multiplication of power by means of the lever.

"Other features of the invention relate to an improved brake band support, and to other novel combinations of parts and desirable particular constructions which will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment shown in the accompanyin drawings, in which:

l igurc 1 is a front elevation of the axle and brake mechanism, the latter being partly in section;

Figure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1; a

Figure 3 is a partial plan view showing the brake drum in angular relation to the operating lever.

A is the stationary axle such as commonl used for the front axle of a motor vehicle and which is provided with the bifurcated cations Band pivots C, and G is a. brake shoe arranged within said brake drum.

H is a member, preferably formed of pressed sheet metal, which has a portion surrounding the axle'spindle and which extends radially outward and then laterally inward into the central plane of the brake shoe, its peripheral portion forming a rest for said shoe. The member H is cut away at II and H. to provide clearance for bracket members I and I which are secured to the inner face of the shoe adjacent to opposite ends thereof. K and K are abutments which are adjustably secured inthe brackets I find 1, preferably by being provideda withthreaded shanks L andL' engaging correspondingly threaded split sockets in said brackets, said sockets being clamped upon the threaded shanks by screws M. N is an abutment member which is secured to the stationary axle in alignment. with the axis of the pivot C, being preferably a roller bearing secured to one of the furcations B.

In order to avoid the complications of conventional operating devices for front brakes, and aceordingto an important feature of the invention, the brake is applied by a horizontally-swinging lever 0, directly connected at its left end (Fig. 1) to a brake rod or other means operated by the pedal or its equivalent. The lever'O is fulcrumed near its right end on the axle A, so that there is a considerable multiplication of power as the right end, carrying an antifriction roller 1 is swung, in applying. the brake, from an idle position spaced rearward'ly of the swivelling axis of the wheel forwardly to an active position in which it is substantially in that axis. Since the lever extends along the axle away from the wheel, it carries the brake-applying connections a considerable distance inwardly from the wheel, substantially opposite the chassis frame, so that there is no possibility that those connections will interfere with steering movement of the wheel. In describing the lever, the term inwardly is intended to define the direction away from the wheel and toward the chassis frame, and the term outwardly to define the direction toward the wheel. a

That is, when the brake is applied, the

axis of roller P is substantially coincident, with the swivelling axis of. the wheel, so 110 in opera on, the brake is setby a movementof the lever O which forces the brake lcrence from the bral'ce mechanism.

shoe against the inner face of the brake drum, while at the same time the wheel is free to turn upon the pivot C without inter- This is for the'reason that both the abut-ment- N and the bearing; P are in substantial alignment with the axis of the pivot, so that there will be no relative displacement by the turning of the wheel around said pivot. ()n the. other hand, all of the braking stress is transmit-tool directly into. the stationary axle without any strain upon the pivot of the spindle." The anchor for the brake band is claimed. in my prior Patent No- 1,470,803.

I claim:

1. The combination with a swivellod wheel having a brake, of operating mechanism not'swivelling with the wheel and. including a brake-applying portion movable in a plane perpendicular to the swiveling axis of the Wheel from an idle position spaced materially from the swivelling axis to an active position substantially in that axis.

2.. The combination" with a swivellerl wheel having a brake, of operating mechanism not swivelling with the wheel and including a brake-applying portion movable approximately parallel to the wheel and in a. planeperpendicular to the swiveling axis of the wheel from an idle position spaced materially from the swivelling axis to an till the sun active position substantially in that axis.

3 The combination with a swivelled wheel having a brake, of operating mechanism including a lever having its brake engaging portion movable in a plane perpendicular to the swiveling axis in applying the brake from an idle position spaced from the swivelling axis to an active position substantially'in that axis.

l. he combination with a: swivellecl wheel having a brake, of operating mechanism including a lever having its bralceengaging portion movable in a plane perpendicular to the swivolling axis in applying the brake from an idle position spaced behind, the swivelling axis forwardlyto an active-position substantially in that axis.

The combination with a' swivelled wheelhaving-a brake, of operating mechanism. for the brake including a lever fulid between it, ends, on the opposite .oi' the swivellin axis from the wheel,

its outer and movable in an arc sub- A, sla intersecting the swivolling axis an-u its llllltl' end spaced inwardly irom ailing axis in a direction generally perpendicular to the wheel by a distance approximately equal to the length of the Wheel having a brake, of operating inecha-'" nisin for the brake including a lever l'ulcrunied between its ends on the opposite side of the swivelling axis from the wheel for movement about an. axis generally parallel to the swivclling axis but spaced inwardly therefrom, with its outer end movable in an are substantially intersecting the swivelling axis with its inner ondspaccd inward ly from the swivelling axis in adirectiou generally perpendiciilai. to the wheel by. a distance approximalely equal .10 the length of the lcvcix I 7. The combination with an axle and a wheel swivellecl thereto and having a brake, of operating mechanism for the brake in cluding" a lever fulcrumecl intermediate its ends on the axle for generally horizontal swinging movement, and so arranged that its brake-applying portion is moved in applying the brake from a position spaced from the swivelling axis to an active position substantially in that axis.

8. The combination with a swivcllcd wheel having a brake, of operating mechanisn1-for the brake including a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends for generally horizontal swinging; movement, and so arranged that its brake-applying portion is moved in applying the brake from a posi-' tion spaced from the swivelhng axis to an.

active position substantially in that axis.

9. The combination with a swivelled wheel having a brake, of operating mechanism for the brake including a thrust member; swivelling with the wheel, and nonswivelling means engaging said member and movable in a. plane perpendicular to the ,swiveling axis in applying the brake from an idle position spaced materially from the swivelling axis to an active position sul stantiallyin that axis. 1

10. The combination with a swivelled wheel having a brake, of-operating mecha nism forthe brake including a thrust member swivelling with the wheel, and nonswivelling means engaging said member and movable in applying the brake from an idle position spaced from the swivelling axis to an active position substantially in that axis, the thrust member being adjustable to pro-- serve the relationship between the active position of. said means and the swivelling axis as the brake lining wears away.

11. The combination with aswivelled wheel having a brake, of operating mechanism for thebrake including a thrust menibor swivelling with the wheel, and a gcnerally horizontal lever having a part engaging rid member and movable in applying the brake from an idle'position spaced from tlie ill) law

swivelling axis to an active position subt'rom the wheel, and with its outer end swinging in an are substantially intersecting the swivelling axis. and which extends inwardl along the axle from the swivelling axis.

13. The combination with a swivclled wheel having a brake drum, of a friction device anchoring at one end within the drum, and a brake-operating lever directly transmitting thrust to the inumehored end of said dcviceto expand the device against the drum, the brake-applying end of the. lever being movable substantially perpendicular to the swivelling axis of the wheel.

14. The combination with a swivellcd wheel having a brake drum, of a friction device anchoringat. one end, and a brake-aplying lever movable in a plane substantialy perpendicular to the swivelling axis and directly transmitting thrust to the unanchored end .of said device to force it. against the drum, the brake-applying end of the lever being Irranged when the brake is applied substantially in the swivelling' axis.

15. The combination with a substantially vertical wheel having a brake drum, of a friction device anchoring at one end within the; drum, and a. substantially horizontal" brake-applying lever fulcrumed between its ends and having one end extending into the brake drum and directly transmitting thrust to the unanchored end of'said device to expand said device against the drum.

16. The combination, with an'axle and a wheel having abrake swivelled at the end of the axle, of brake-applying mechanism including a lever fulcrumed between its ends on the axle on the opposite side of the swivel ling axis from the wheel, with itseoutcr end swinging in an are substantially intersecting the swivelling axis, and extending above and generally parallel to the axle inwardly from the swivelling axis and from the wheel.

17. The 'con'ibination, with an axle'and a wheel having a brake swivelled at the end of the axle, of braltcaipplying mechanism insigned my name.

with its, outer end-swinging in an are substantially intersecting the swivelling axis,

and extending above and generally parallel to the axle inwardly from the swivel-ling axis and from the wheel.

18. The combination, with a swivelled wheel having a brake including a brake-21p plying thrust member, of a lever fulcrumed on the opposite side of the swihelling axis t'roui the wheel and extending inwardly from the swivelling axis generally perpendicular. to the plane of the wheel for substantially the length of the lever and having at its outer end a part engaging said thrust member, the thrust member being movable on said part. when the wheel-is swivelled with the ,bralte'applied. about a center substantially in the swivelling axis.

19. The combination, with a swivelled wheel having a brake including a brake applying thrust membeiaot a lever extending inwardly from the swivclling axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the wheel for substantially the length of the lever and having at its outer end a part engaging said thrust member, '-.the thrust memberbeing movable on said part, when the wheel is swivelled with the brake applied, about a center substantially in the sv'vivelling axis;

20. The combination, with aswivelled,

wheel having a brake including a brake-tip plying thrustpart of a lever extending generally perpendicular to the wheel and 'havingat its end a part disconnected from but engaging said thrust-part, the engaging surface of one of said parts being curved,

21. The combination, with a swivelled -whee1 having a brake including a brake-applying thrust part of a lever extending generally perpendicular to the wheel and having at its end a part disconnected from but engaging said thrust part and curved in an arc. whose center is substantially in the swivelling axis when 'the brake is applied.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ALANSON P. BRUSH. 

